Westward Ho! New Years Day Dip 2020

We knew it was going to be busy as this event in Westward Ho! has captured hearts and minds....Even if fuzzy from new years eve celebrations the night before! We could only dream that this many people would turned up to start 2020 with us, making wonderful memories in Westward Ho!

What an atmosphere on the beach and in the village. Thousands turned up to watch hundreds run into the sea with their finest fancy dress on, some straight from their New Years eve celebrations! The sea of colour on the beach was impressive and the crowd really spirited. 

Our Marshals led by Colin Petty grabbed some spades and created a safe walk way onto the beach for the Dippers arriving. We soon realized we needed a much bigger bridge as the people swarmed down the slipway and just didn't stop! Our marshal team did a sterling job helping people onto the beach and making sure no one fell off the edge of the slip way.

On the beach, we had set two flags out to control the entry point of the dippers to make sure our RNLI lifeguards could cover the event area effectively....After looking down the beach at the number of people, Peter went down the beach and re positioned the flags 50m apart just to accommodate all the dippers!

A warm up with Crazy Jack was next, as we hadn't planned for quite so many people the PA system couldn't be heard at the waters edge above the noise of excited dippers. Peter stood in front of the awaiting dippers and relayed the warm up actions...We were almost ready for the off, just wanted to set a camera to catch the spectacle of 100's of people running at you, then they started!! Ohhh Nooooo.....No time to set the GoPro, nothing was going to stop this stampede heading to the waters edge, always next year I guess LoL

It was magical watching so many excited people running into the sea with all manner of fancy dress on. The ones that stuck in my mind was the Jamaican Bobsled team, Rob Braddick as the StormPooper, Hulk, Craig from the Slice Of Life Cafe with his pink ring plus Flamingo, a group taking a Christmas tree for a swim, our Councillor Nick Laws with his Victorian bathing suit and massive smile to name just a few. It was really impressive to see.

Westward Ho! was really busy, there was no where to park at all. ALL of Northam burrows was filled as was all of the village car parks and residential roads. Some missed the dip as couldn't get into the village which is sad, those that did make it, had a great memory maker with us. It was brilliant to see so many people loving to #visitwestwardho!

Lessons to be learnt as dippers for 2021 is to get to Westward Ho! early, park up and go get breakfast, ease yourself into the day with no stress and hassle. Check only our website www.visitwestwardho.co.uk in the Entertainment section orhttps://www.facebook.com/VisitWestwardHo/Facebook page for updates, several 3rd party sites every event have incorrect information/times published. We make sure the sites we have control of, have the right information and are updated. We want as many people as possible to enjoy this day with us. It is a spectacular way to start any year and enjoy the wonders of Westward Ho!

Lessons I had already learnt as the organizer from previous events is to always plan for many more people than expected. As in this case, if you end up with 3000 people here and 500-700 doing the dip, your safety/medical cover is still 100% and everyone goes home safe and sound.

Lessons for next year is to get more speakers for the PA system, build a bigger ramp to gain access to the beach, have exactly the same safety cover using the same professionals with the same back up, make up some boards to let people know when to go and do the warm up at the waters edge.

The RNLI lifeguards we employed to cover the dip was Kane Shaw, Lani Ashford, Jess Surridge, Justin Wright and Hannah Gaunt. Medical cover was supplied by Carl and Ruth of Medicare SW, they look after all our events and as ever are professional while being lovely people that genuinely care about the events. Without all of you on the shore line the event couldn't go on safely. We had the added safety of the magnificent Appledore RNLI inshore lifeboat in the water too, thank you for attending this event to maintain safety for us, you are all legends and we appreciate you donating your time for the community. 

Our Marshals were headed up by Colin Petty, they sorted the beach access then maintained safe access to the beach. Without all of these there would be no way everyone would of got onto the beach in time. Bideford/Westward Ho! Coastguards attended the event too, they protected the edge of the slipway to maintain safe access to the beach and also helped in the water. Again this bunch of highly trained volunteers, like the Appledore Lifeboat, didn't have to be there but wanted too. They are a valuable asset to the safety of our coastlines and also our event plus showed amazing community spirit.

These events aren't cheap to put on, people don't think about the insurance, safety cover costs, equipment needed, licences etc. This like all of our other events is helped by the bucket collection. No one in the Business Association is paid for anything they do, we all benefit from a busy village which is payment in itself so it keeps the costs down. A massive thank you to Jules who organized the bucket collection and to our collectors, without you and the money you collected (£620, a record amount from any event) these events would be less frequent and smaller. Any money that is raised by the Business Association goes straight back into future FREE events in the village.

The sponsors of this event were Mystic (wetsuits and changing ponchos) and John and Julie Martin from The Carousel Amusements, without these two it wouldn't go ahead. We also need to thank Nick Laws and Claire Hodson our TDC Councillors, add them to Peter Soper from event licencing at TDC and we have a winning formula. They help us with licences and permissions that make it easy to put on such great events.

Jack Johns you are a nutter but full of spirit, although you couldn't be heard at the waters edge (neither could I) you managed to pull off a great warm up. It's people like you in Westward Ho! events that make them more special, add a spark. Thank you.

Last thing to say is well done Westward Ho! and surrounding area. You ALL came together to dip in the wonderful Blue Flagged Westward Ho! beach as a community, as lovers of Westward Ho! It was amazing, it made memories and was the ONLY way to start 2020. Thank you all for attending and we will see you in 2021...Same place, same time, slightly altered event to allow for more of you!

This photo was taken as the last dipper came out, I had seen the lifeguards, checked with Ruth at Medicare SW to hear the news we had no injuries at all. Twice the expected people turned up but I had planned for this to keep it safe.
It worked, it gave Westward Ho! a buzz that afternoon and now Social Media is full of Westward Ho! and happy faces....Mission accomplished! See you at 12.15pm 01.01.2021 for the next one for a 1pm dip and please check out all the other events we hold every year including Festival Of Kites, Sandcastle Competition, Sunset Festivals, Day Of The Dead, Christmas Light Switch On, WHAAM, Ho Ho! Ho! and anything new that pops out of my head.
Thanks again for all being amazing,
Peter Sawyer.